A judge has ordered a Kentucky clerk to jail after she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

US District Judge David Bunning told Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis she would be jailed until she complied with his order to issue the licenses. The disgraced clerk thanked the judge and was escorted from the court by US Marshals.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the courthouse on Thursday morning anticipating the ruling. Many predicted that Ms Davis would only face fines for her actions, however, in an interview with Fox News, she told the station she was prepared to face jail time.

“I’ve weighed the cost and I’m prepared to go to jail, I sure am. This has never been a gay or lesbian issue for me. This is about upholding the word of God.”

The 49-year-old Davis is an Apostolic Christian who believes in a literal interpretation of the bible. She's previously claimed that she's not required to obey a Supreme Court judgement that refusing same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional.